Nicki Minaj has reacted to her mentor, Lil Wayne’s disappointment over being snubbed for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, offering encouragement and support.
Over the weekend, Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation assists the NFL in selecting the halftime performer, revealed that fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar had been chosen as the headliner for the February event.
Social media users had mixed reactions to the news, with supporters in Lil Wayne’s camp believing that the legendary rapper should have taken the coveted spot.
Those bashing the Super Bowl’s decision to use Kendrick Lamar argue that since the event is taking place in New Orleans, which also happens to be Lil Wayne’s hometown, Lil Wayne should have been honored with the halftime show headliner spot.
After friends and supporters, including his manager, daughter, and Nicki Mina, publicly condemned his being sidelined, Lil Wayne has spoken out, admitting that the ordeal “broke” him.
“First of all, I want to say forgive me for the delay. I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking,” the “Love Me” rapper began somberly. “I’mma say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all love and support out there. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”
He continued, “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for just automatically mentally putting myself in that position.
“So I blame myself for that, but I thought there was nothing better than that — that spot, on that stage, and that platform, in my city,” Lil Wayne told his fans.
Nicki Minaj took to Lil Wayne’s comments section to show her support.
“This, too, shall pass. But what you have done for the hip-hop culture will remain. It will stand the TEST of time. Many times our greatest & most dehumanizing test is just a way for God to get the glory. You were simply used in a war of egos. To ppl who are empty inside, all they have is their temporary power,” a part of her message read.
Though the Super Bowl stage eluded him this time, Lil Wayne’s place in music history is assured, and as Nicki Minaj so poignantly stated, “what you have done for the hip-hop culture will remain.”
